What is the Angular Frequency of a Bent Wire Over a Pivot?

[vladimir69]

Homework Statement

A uniform piece of wire is bent into an upside down V shape with angle \theta between two legs of length L. The wire is placed over a pivot. Show that the angular frequency of small-amplitude oscillations about the equilibrium is
\omega=\sqrt{\frac{3g\cos(\frac{\theta}{2})}{2L}}

Homework Equations

maybe centre of mass of a rod comes into it
maybe \omega=\sqrt{\frac{k}{I}}

The Attempt at a Solution

Don't know how to start this problem

 

[Doc Al]

Hint: Treat it as a physical pendulum. (Which is what it is.)

 

[vladimir69]

the shape of the thing makes it a bit tricky because i think i have to find out the centre of mass
perhaps the centre of mass could be found by
\cos(\frac{\theta}{2})}=\frac{x}{\frac{L}{2}}
where x is the vertical distance as measured from the pivot point
so
x=\frac{L}{2}\cos(\frac{\theta}{2})}
and let the mass of the wire be m
then
I\alpha=mgx\sin\phi
I=mx^2
where
\alpha=\frac{d^2\phi}{dt^2}
mx^2\frac{d^2\phi}{dt^2}=mgx\sin\phi
x\frac{d^2\phi}{dt^2}=g\sin\phi
\frac{L}{2}\cos(\frac{\theta}{2})}\frac{d^2\phi}{dt^2}\approx g\phi
not sure where a 3 will pop in but that's my best effort

 

[diazona]

It's not true for this case that I = mx^2, because it's not a point mass, it's a rod. (Actually it's like two rods)

 

[vladimir69]

ok i think i have it
I=\frac{2}{3}mL^2
I\alpha\approx 2mgx\phi
and then omega can be calculated from this
\frac{1}{3}L^2\alpha\approx gx\phi